Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

These amendments are also similar to those previously moved by the Australian Democrats and they clarify that protected disclosures extend to any other form of abuse, including physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and financial abuse or neglect. The nub of the question is whether you extend that protection to the reporting of these forms of abuse other than those  which are described in the bill—that is, sexual assault and serious physical assault.

In relation to the department’s treatment of a provider—that is, if the department were to take punitive action against a provider for reporting—the new Aged Care Commissioner would oversight that and would be charged with making sure that the department did not act inappropriately. In relation to a provider taking punitive action against an aged resident because of some complaint, the department oversights that, as I understand it, and action could then be taken.

The government is not persuaded to agree to the amendments, but I say again that this is one aspect that will be monitored. I give an undertaking that this will be monitored by the government. I am referring to the question of the reporting of wider abuse—which has been the subject of this debate and the previous Democrat amendment—and to the question of whether or not a culture of reporting is being engendered. Obviously, that is something we agree with. Whilst the government does not agree with opposition amendments (3) and (4), it will make this one of the subjects of monitoring.